Resilient wheel.



W. E. ENDICOTT.

RESlLIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1914.

1 1 58,795. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

ammo a irnn s'rr s AFT rric WARREN E. ENDICOTT, OF PAWNEE, OKLAHOMA.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed September 14, 1914. Serial No. 861,698.

of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient lVhcels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in resilient wheels and particularly to that class of wheels which are pro vided with spring spokes.

An object of this invention is to simplify the construction of devices of this character whereby to render the same more commercially desirable and efficient and durable in use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a spring spoke for vehicle wheels which is provided with telescoping sections, comprising a pair of spaced cylinders having a plunger disposed therebetween, springs being so arranged in the plungers that a portion of the spokes of the wheel will be allowed to contract while another portion thereof expands.

Vvith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my improved wheel; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the draw ing, the numeral 1 designates the hub of my improved wheel in which a plurality of re cesses 2 are formed, and 3 the rim of the wheel from which a plurality of spaced bifurcated stems 4 project inwardly, the stems being of the same number as the recesses, and being spaced apart suitable distances so as to be in radial alinement with the re cesses. Each of my improved spokes comprises three sections, the sections including an inner and an outer cylinder 5 and 6 respectively, the cylinders being closed at their opposing ends, a plunger 7 being disposed between the cylinders and projecting at its opposite ends within the same through the closed ends thereof. To close the inner end of the inner cylinder 5 and the outer end of the outer cylinder 6, caps 8 are threadably mounted thereon, each of the caps having a longitudinally projecting ap ertured lug 9, the lug 9 on the inner cylinder being pivotally mounted in one of the recesses 2 in the hub, and the lug on the outer cylinder being pivotally mounted between the furcations of the stem a which is in radial alinement with the recess. Dis posed within each of the cylinders is a coiled spring 10, and threadably mounted on each end of the plunger 7 is a head 11, the heads being adapted forengagement against the springs contained within the cylinders. The

head 11 on the inner end of the plunger is arranged between the outer end of the cylinder 5 and the outer end of the spring 10 contained therein, and the head on the outer end of the plunger 7 is arranged between the cap 8 in the outer end of the cylinder 6 and the spring 10 contained therein whereby each of the plungers is held in the outer end of its cylinder. It will be noted from F ig.

1 that the space between the cylinders 5 and 6, when these cylinders are arranged in operative position and engaged with the heads or caps 8, is equal to the length of either one of the cylinders but greater than the length of the springs. Thus either cylinder may be detached from its corresponding cap and shifted along the plunger rod to permit the removal of the corresponding spring from the cylinder. Thus if either of the springs in my construction is danr aged it is only necessary to unscrew the corresponding cylinder from the corresponding cap and shift the cylinder longitudinally along the plunger rod whereby the corresponding spring may be readily removed. Furthermore, it is an easy matter to remove the plunger in. case this is necessary. Thus both of the cylinders may be unscrewed from their respective caps. and one of the cylinders is shifted back upon the plunger rod, the corresponding head of the plunger rod removed, and then the plunger rod may be removed from between the cylinders. If one of the cylinders is damaged in any way it is relatively an easy matter to replace it in a few minutes.

In the foregoing description, I have only specifically described one spoke, but it will be readily understood from the drawing that any desired number of spokes may be used in connection with the hub and rim, so that all of the spokes are identical in construction.

In assembling my improved wheel, the

Y for use. c readily understood that the spokes below the 'hubwill be compressed, and the spokes ;above will be lengthened, the arrangement "of the springs within the cylinders allow ing for automatic lengthening and shortening of the spokes as the wheel rotates. It will of course be understood thatif desired rim 3 is arranged concentric to the head,

and the opposite ends of the plungers 7 are disposed through the opposing end walls of the inner and outer cylinders. The springs are then placed within the outer cylinders 6, whereupon the heads 11 are threaded on the outer ends of the plungers to bear against the outer ends of the springs, and 'the'caps 8 are then threaded on the outer ends of the cylinders 6. The cylinders are moved in wardly on the plungers so that the heads 11 may bethreaded upon the inner ends of the plungers, whereupon the cylinders are again moved outwardly on the plungers to engage the heads ll'on the inner ends of the plum igers against the outer end walls of the cylinders, so that the springs may he placed into the inner cylinders and the caps threaded upon their inner ends. With the various parts in this position, the lugs 9 on the outer ends of the cylinders 6 are pivotally mounted between the furcations of the stems 4 and the lugs 9 on the inner ends of the cylinders 5 are pivotally mounted within the recesses 2 and the wheel is then ready As the wheel is used, it will be a rubber tire may be mounted on the rim to deaden the noise of the wheel as the same moves over a rough roadway.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is In a resilient wheel, a hub, a'rim, a plurality of spokes connecting the hub and rim, each spoke comprising a rod having a head at each end, a pair of cylinders into which the opposite ends of the plunger red are disposed for sliding movement, the confronting ends of the cylinder being permanently closed, caps closing the oppositely directed open ends of the cylinders, the caps being respectively pivotally connected to the rim and to the hub, a spring disposed in onecylinder between the permanently closed end thereof and the plunger head, and a spring disposed in the other cylinder be-' tween the cap thereof and the plunger head,

the space between the cylinders being suflicient to permit either cylinder to be shifted along the plunger rod to entirely disclose the corresponding spring and permit its removal.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVitnesses GEORGE WV. ENDIoo'rT, ALoNzo D. TOMPKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

WARREN E. ENDIGOTTV 

